Stop sidewalk construction | Letters | Summerville Journal Scene

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Stop sidewalk construction

Published Thursday, August 05, 2010 1:18 PM

Summerville Journal Scene ®

Dear Editor,

I write on behalf of the 70 or more voting-age citizens who signed the petition against the proposed sidewalk construction on Woodward Boulevard in Corey Woods subdivision. I presented our petition to halt this construction before Summerville Town Council in April 2010 only to be told that they declined to act on our behalf in this matter. Town Councilman Mike Dawson’s carefully worded opposition to our petition stated that by acting in our behalf, “it could potentially put the city in a legal battle.” The Town attorney Mark Stokes said, “Helping them would only invite lawsuits from the contractor against the town for lost profits.”

This indeed raised the eyebrows of the mayor and the other council members. The word “lawsuits” must strike terror in the hearts of politicians.

Oh ye timid sheep, have you no backbone? Or is this just another case of government ignoring the will of the citizens after it has made unsolicited decisions for them? Yeah, who cares about us? We only pay taxes and we’re not members of the ruling class who spend them. Summerville Town Council gave the green light for this construction at a previous city council meeting in August, 2009 without a hearing for the citizens of this neighborhood to voice their opinion. I guess we don’t matter much to them. But by God, don’t they act like they love us when they want a vote!

I and my fellow citizens are still in opposition to this construction now scheduled to commence early next week. I have contacted my County Council Member Richard Rosebrock and my S.C. Representative Jenny Horne in an effort to enlist their help in halting this project. I urge others who are in opposition to this project to do the same. Many of my neighbors have expressed a desire to see a park constructed for our children in the neighborhood with these monies. Or, construct needed sidewalks on Central Avenue or Hwy 17A where there is a great deal more foot traffic and much more dangerous vehicular traffic.

I was just reading in Wednesday’s Journal Scene of a young girl who was riding her bike on Central Avenue and became disoriented. She was rescued by several of Summerville’s Best who assisted her in finding her way home. I shudder to think of what could have happened if this young girl had been struck by a vehicle during her time of disorientation on Central Avenue. There are no sidewalks out there.

Let me be perfectly clear on this, we still do not want or need this construction. It is truly a sad day when the will of the people is no longer important to our society.

Sincerely,

Richard K. Whitely

Corey Woods

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104 East Doty Avenue | Summerville, SC 29483 | 843-873-9424 office | 843-873-9432 fax